Plastic container for dispensing measured quantities and reducing height of container as contents dispensed

ABSTRACT

A plastic container is provided with a multi-part lid having a cutting edge which cuts into the side of the container and a dispensing compartment. Upon turning the lid in one direction a measured quantity of contents is forced into the dispensing compartment. Simultaneously a portion of the sides of the container are cut away and stored in a receptacle in the lid, the volume of the container being reduced an amount slightly greater than the quantity of contents dispensed. By turning the lid in the opposite direction the lid components are returned to closed position but the cutting edge of the lid is prevented from turning in a reverse direction.

United States Patent Harschel 1 Apr. 17, 1973 [5 PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ggANTITIES 595,071 3/ 1960 Canada ..222/37O CONTAINER AS CONTE Primary Examiner--Robert B. Reeves DISPENSED Assistant ExaminerFrederick R. Handren [76] Inventor: Jonas C. Herschel, 8 Mariposa Attorney-lunar] Caplan Court, Burlingame, Calif. 94010 ABSTRACT [22] Ffled: 1970 A plastic container is provided with a multi-part lid [21] Appll N0.: 87,919 having a cutting edge which cuts into the side of the container and a dispensing compartment. Upon turning the lid in one direction a measured quantity of 2? 5 Z 1 ZS contents is forced into the dispensing compartment. 1 d 205 Simultaneously a portion of the sides of the container [58] o R are cut away and stored in a receptacle in the lid, the i volume of the container being reduced an amount slightly greater than the quantity of contents [561 References Clted dispensed. By turning the lid inthe opposite direction UNITED STATES PATENTS the lid components are returned to closed position but the cutting edge of the lid is prevented from turning in 2,634,024 Hosmer a reverse direction 3,269,612 8/1966 Bode 3,432,078 3/1969 Hall 222/80 7 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPW'S 3.727. 798

SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG1 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY JONAS C. HARSCHEL PATENTED APR 1 H975 FIGfZ SHEET 2 [IF 3 INVENTOR.

JONAS C. HARSCHEL BY 4w,

( ATTORNEY PATENTEI] APR 1 H973 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. JONAS C HARSCHEL ATTORNEY PLASTIC CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING MEASURED QUANTITIES AND REDUCING HEIGHT OF CONTAINER AS CONTENTS DISPENSED This invention relates to a new and improved plastic container and dispensing closure therefor, which incorporates means for cutting down the height of the container as the contents are dispensed.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing closure for a container which measures out a predetermined quantity of product from the container and dispenses the same. A typical example of use of the invention is in packaging powdered coffee.

Means is provided to measure out a fixed quantity e.g., l teaspoonful of product each time the closure is actuated by the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the contents of the container out of contact with the air between uses and thus to reduce deterioration of the product by oxidation, volatilization, and the like. The dispenser is opened and filled when the closure is turned in one direction, so that the contents may be dispensed. When the closure is turned in the opposite direction, the opening is closed, forming a comparatively airtight seal.

Still another feature of the invention is the fact that mans is provided for cutting down the walls of the container as the closure is turned to dispense the contents. Cutter blades are incorporated in the mechanism which cut the container walls in continuous chips, similar to lathe chips, and thereby the overall height of the container is diminished as the device is used. This feature of the invention has a number of advantages. In the first place, the air space within the container is reducedas the contents are dispensed and thus oxidation of the contents is reduced. Another feature is the fact that the shelf space requirement of the container is gradually reduced as the height of the container is cut. A still further feature of the invention is the fact that the reduction in height of the container indicates approximately the quantity of product remaining therein and thus signals the need for replacing the container as the contents approach exhaustion.

Another advantage of the present invention is the fact that the chips are collected and stored in a special receptacle provided in the device. Hence the chips are not mixed with the product, nor are they scattered so that subsequent collection and disposal become a problem.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that as the device is used, the product is redistributed inside the container to avoid the likelihood of packing the product in a localized area.

Other features of the invention are the simplicity of the construction of the device and the fact that use of the device is simple, requiring very little, if any, skill. The structure hereinafter described is so designed that the likelihood of misfunction is for practical purposes eliminated.

Still another feature of the invention is the fact that the volume of container is reduced and when all product is consumed is very compact. Thus waste disposal problems are greatly reduced.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing parts of the device.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the device assembled, partly broken away to reveal internal construction.

FIG. 3 is a top plan.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing the container collapsed, taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the metal cup, one of the parts of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing the dispensing portion closed.

' FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing the parts in open position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 5 in enlarged scale.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the dispenser disc.

The present invention comprises preferably five parts. A plastic container 11 having a closed bottom and open top receives and supports the other parts. Initially the container 11 is relatively high, but as the device is used the contents of the container are dispensed and the height is reduced. Fitting inside the top of container 11 is a collector cup 12, preferably of metal. Resting on top of the cup 12 is a dispenser disk 13 and on top of disk 13 is a closure disk 14. Fitting over the other four elements is a top cover ring 16. The construction of the various parts will be individually described.

Container 11 is of thin-walled plastic material, such as polyethylene of the soft grade which can be cut and which will preferably form a continuous chip similar to a lathe chip. The top edge 21 of the container is flat and entirely open. Adjacent the closed bottom of the container is a plurality of finger grips 22 so that the fingers of the user will prevent rotation of container 1 1 during use. a

The collector cup 12 has a bottom 26, an upstanding cylindrical side wall 27 which fits inside top 21 of the container and an open top. Extending outward from side wall 27 at the top thereof are interrupted flanges 28, which rest on top edge 21. At diametrically opposed positions are upstanding tabs 29 formed by bending upward portions of the interrupted flanges 28. At the interruptions 31 of flanges 28 there are inserted projecting outward of wall 27, a plurality of cutter blades 32, here shown as three in number. Blades 32 are positioned and sharpened to cut into the top edge 21 of the container 11 in spiral cuts. Preferably there are three blades 32 spaced apart and slanted so as to cut a thriple-thread of a pitch of about one-fourth inch. As hereinafter explained, the cup 12 is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, and as it turns the knife blades 32 cut chips from the top edge 21. Immediately trailing of each blade 32 is deflector 33, which curves outwardly from wall 27 and directs the chips cut by blade 32 into the cup 12. To prevent counter rotation of cup 12 relative to container 11, there are spaced outward projecting tangs 34 which dig into the wall of the container 11 and prevent member 12 from turning in a counter-clockwise direction. The

bottom 26 of cup 12 is formed with an opening 37, which is approximately 15 of the total area of bottom 26. Immediately trailing of opening 37 bottom 26 is formed with downwardly-slanted scoop 36. As the cup 12 is turned, the scoop 36 clips into the contents of the container 1 1 and scoops the same up through the opening 37. At the center of the bottom 26 is a depression 38, which projects down into the contents of container 1 1 and prevents the contents from packing into a hard mass at the center. Thus the contents of the container are redistributed as the device is used.

Dispenser disk 13, preferably of plastic, has a flat circular top 41, which closes off the top of cup 12, the outer portion of disk 41 resting on flanges28. For purposes which hereinafter are set forth in detail, there are two diametrically opposed approximately notches 42 cut into the periphery of disk 41 and intermediate notches 42 are two diametrically opposed short notches 43. Depending from disk 41 is a dispenser compartment 44. The top 49 of compartment 44 is open. A portion 46 of the bottom thereof is closed, the

bottom portion 46 having a shape complementary to the opening 37 in cup 12. Trailing portion 46 there is an opening 47 in the bottom of dispenser 44 which likewise has an arcuate extent equal to opening 37. Directing attention to FIG. 6, when the parts are in one position of adjustment, bottom portion 46 closes off the opening 37 but when the parts are rotated through approximately 7%, (see FIG. 6A) the openings 47 and 37 are aligned and communication is established between the dispenser compartment 44 and the interior of the container 11. As rotation of parts 12 and 13 continues, scoop 36 scoops the product up into the compartment 44 whichpreferably has a predetermined capacity such as l teaspoonful. Compartment 44 has a front wall 71 which is preferably radial and a rear wall '72 which is also radial. The outer wall 73 is arcuate and fits inside the wall 27 of cup 12. The inner wall 74 of compartment 44 is preferably chordal.

' Closure disk 14 is a flat plastic disk 51 having an outside diameter approximately equal to the disk 41 of member 13. The'periphery of disk 51 has two diametrically opposed notches 53 of approximately 45 length which are displaced 90 relative to notches 42 in the assembled position of the parts and also has two short notches 54 corresponding and displaced 90 relative to notches 43 in assembled position. The disk is formed with an aperture 52 which is similar in shape to the aperture 49 of dispensing compartment 14. As a matter of ornamentation, the aperture 52 may have an extension 55 so that the two apertures 52, 55 give the appearance of the outline of a spoon, indicating that the dispenser 44 has a capacity of 1 teaspoon. When apertures 52 and 49 are in alignment, the compartment 44 may be emptied to the atmosphere but when they are turned so that they are not in registry, the compartment 44 (and the container 11) are sealed from the atmosphere.

Cover ring 16 has a cylindrical skirt 61 which fits outside of container 11 and around the periphery of members 12, 13 and 14 and preferably has external ribs 65 so that it may be gripped conveniently by the fingers of the user. The depending skirt 61 at its upper end has an inturned flange 63 which fits on top of disk 51. Spaced below flange 63 is an internal bead 64 which fits under the periphery of disk 41 of member 13 with disks 13. and 14 interposed between flange 63 and ring 64. Interconnecting flange 63 and ring 64 are two diametrically opposed vertical internal ribs 66 which fit into notches 53 and are securely seated in notches 43. Below rib 66 is an internal abutment 67 which is slanted and fits under flanges 28 and ensures that the bottom portion 46 of dispenser 44 is in tight engagement with the bottom 26 of member 12 in the closed position of FIG. 6. Above flange 63 is an upstanding rim 68 interrupted as at 69 so as to facilitate pouring the contents of the container, rim .68 assisting in v stacking the containers.

In the assembly of the device, the member 12 fits inside the container 11, the flanges 28 resting on the top edge 21 and the blades 32 beginning to dig into the top edge 21. The keys 29 fit loosely through the notches 42 and fit tightly into the notches 54 while the ribs 66 fit loosely through the notches 53 and tightly in the notches 4 3. Thus when the ring 16 is turned, member 13 always turns therewith and in the same direction. Members 12 and 14 also always turn with each other and in the same direction because of the keying of the parts. Openings 37 and 52 are permanently aligned.

In using the device, the serrations 22 and 65 are gripped by the user and the ring 16 is turned clockwise thereby immediately turning disk 13. Disk 14 and cup 12 however, do not immediately turn because of the notches 53 and further the fact that the blades 32 are tending to cut into the walls of the container 11 and thus offer the most resistance to rotation. At the commencement of the turning movement, the apertures 52 and 49 are aligned in open position as are the openings 37 and 47. Continued turning movement causes disk 14 and cup 12 to turn because the ribs 66 have reached the end of the notches 53. Thus continued turning movement causes the blades 32 to cut into the container wall and to form chips which are deflected by deflectors 33 into the area within cup 12'which is not occupied by dispenser compartment 44. The area below disk 41 and inside cup 12 is used to receive such chips. As the cup 12 is turned, the scoop 36 fills the dispensing compartment 44. When the dispensing compartment is filled, the device is inverted and the contents dispensed through the openings 49 and 52. To facilitate dispensing and to prevent the lid from capturing the contents, the rim 68 of ring 16 is cut away as indicated by reference numeral 69 so that the contents will pour out of the ring. I

After the contents of compartment 44 have been dispensed, ring 16 is turned in the opposite direction. Because of tang 34 digging into the wall of container 11, members 12 and 14 remain in position and are not counter rotated. However, member 13 turns approximately 45 thereby causing openings 49 and 52 and also openings 37 and 47 to be out of registry, thereby closing the device.

The gradual turning of ring 16 cuts down the walls of the container 11 and causes the chips to be collected inside the cup 12. The amount which the container is reduced in volume is slightly greater than the amount of contents dispensed, thereby preventing packing of the contents inside the containeruwhen the whole container is cut down and all the contents are usedup, the device, which now has the appearance shown in FIG. 4, may be discarded.

Preferably, scoop 36 is sufficiently flexible so that as it contacts the bottom of container 11 it bends to scoop up the last of the product and bottom 26 fits relatively flush with the bottom of the container.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for reducing the height of a container wallas contents are dispensed comprising a container having an open top and a substantially cylindrical wall formed of a material which may be manually cut by a blade, a cutting member fitting inside said top and having at least one blade projecting outwardly therefrom positioned to cut down said wall from said top as said cutting member is rotated, turning means fitting over said cutting member and v said container and having driving means whereby upon rotation of said turning means said cutting member is turned and said blade cuts a chip off said top to reduce the height of said wall, said cutting member having an aperture for dispensing contents from said container, said cutting member being formed as a cup and having a deflector positioned to direct chips cut by said blade into said cup for storage, a dispenser disk resting upon the top of said cup, and moveable between first and second positions relative to said disk, said dispenser disk having an opentop compartment depending therefrom, the bottom of said compartment resting on the bottom of said cup, said bottom of said compartment formed with a second aperture which is in registry with said first-mentioned aperture in first position to permit dispensing of said contents and said compartment closing off said firstmentioned aperture when in second position, and means for moving said dispenser disk between first and second positions. 7

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said turning means sequentially turns said dispensing disk to first position and then turns said cutting member. I

3 A device according to claim 2, in which said cutting member adjacent said first-mentioned aperture is formed .with a scoop, whereby upon relative rotation of said cup and said container with said dispensing disk in=first position contents are scooped up into said comartment. i i

' 4. A deviceaccording to claim 3, which further comprises a closure diskhaving a third aperture above said dispenser disk relative to said dispenser disk, said third aperture aligned with said second aperture when said dispenser disk is in first position,

5. A device according to claim 4, in which said closure disk and said cutting member are joined for movement together and said turning means and said dispenser disk are joined for movement together, said turning means and said cutting member being operatively connected so that turning of said turning means relative to said container first turns said dispenser disk to first position and simultaneously causes said blade to cut said wall.

6. A device according to claim 5, which further comprises projections on said cutting member engaging said wall and permitting rotation of said cutting member in one direction and restraining rotation of said cutting member in the opposite direction.

7. A dispensing device comprising a container having an open top and cylindrical wall, a cup member inside said top and having a first aperture in its bottom, a

dispenser disk on top of said cup member and movable between first and second positions relative to said cup member, said dispenser disk having an open-top comand said cup joined for movement together, said turning means and dispenser disk joined for movement together, said turning means and said cup being operatively connected so that turning of said turning means relative to said container first turns said dispenser disk to first position and then turns said cup with respect to said container and projections on said cup engaging said wall and permitting rotation of said cup in one direction and restraining rotation of said cup in the opposite direction. 

1. A device for reducing the height of a container wall as contents are dispensed comprising a container having an open top and a substantially cylindrical wall formed of a material which may be manually cut by a blade, a cutting member fitting inside said top and having at least one blade projecting outwardly therefrom positioned to cut down said wall from said top as said cutting member is rotated, turning means fitting over said cutting member and said container and having driving means whereby upon rotation of said turning means said cutting member is turned and said blade cuts a chip off said top to reduce the height of said wall, said cutting member having an aperture for dispensing contents from said container, said cutting member being formed as a cup and having a deflector positioned to direct chips cut by said blade into said cup for storage, a dispenser disk resting upon the top of said cup, and moveable between first and second positions relative to said disk, said dispenser disk having an open-top compartment depending therefrom, the bottom of said compartment resting on the bottom of said cup, said bottom of said compartment formed with a second aperture which is in regiStry with said first-mentioned aperture in first position to permit dispensing of said contents and said compartment closing off said first-mentioned aperture when in second position, and means for moving said dispenser disk between first and second positions.
 2. A device according to claim 1, in which said turning means sequentially turns said dispensing disk to first position and then turns said cutting member.
 3. A device according to claim 2, in which said cutting member adjacent said first-mentioned aperture is formed with a scoop, whereby upon relative rotation of said cup and said container with said dispensing disk in first position contents are scooped up into said compartment.
 4. A device according to claim 3, which further comprises a closure disk having a third aperture above said dispenser disk relative to said dispenser disk, said third aperture aligned with said second aperture when said dispenser disk is in first position,
 5. A device according to claim 4, in which said closure disk and said cutting member are joined for movement together and said turning means and said dispenser disk are joined for movement together, said turning means and said cutting member being operatively connected so that turning of said turning means relative to said container first turns said dispenser disk to first position and simultaneously causes said blade to cut said wall.
 6. A device according to claim 5, which further comprises projections on said cutting member engaging said wall and permitting rotation of said cutting member in one direction and restraining rotation of said cutting member in the opposite direction.
 7. A dispensing device comprising a container having an open top and cylindrical wall, a cup member inside said top and having a first aperture in its bottom, a dispenser disk on top of said cup member and movable between first and second positions relative to said cup member, said dispenser disk having an open-top compartment depending therefrom resting on the bottom of said cup member, the bottom of said compartment formed with a second aperture which is in registry with said first aperture in first position, a closure disk having a third aperture above said dispenser disk relative to said dispenser disk, said third aperture aligned with said second aperture when said dispenser disk is in first position, and turning means fitting over said closure disk and around the top of said wall, said closure disk and said cup joined for movement together, said turning means and dispenser disk joined for movement together, said turning means and said cup being operatively connected so that turning of said turning means relative to said container first turns said dispenser disk to first position and then turns said cup with respect to said container and projections on said cup engaging said wall and permitting rotation of said cup in one direction and restraining rotation of said cup in the opposite direction. 